Underfloor Heating

Underfloor heating used to be seen as a luxury used only in extravagant homes and high-end hotels, but those days are gone and most of us know that it’s now a really affordable option. It’s also really practical, particularly in small spaces where it can be used as a replacement for bulky radiators. As with everything, electric underfloor heating has its pros and cons so we’re going to spell them out for you to help you decide whether it’s right for you or the job you are working on.

Pros of Electric Underfloor Heating

Easy to install – compared to other heating systems, electric underfloor heating is relatively easy to install. The mats often have a self-adhesive coating on the underside to fix them to the floor, and they are then covered in a self-levelling compound or tile adhesive. A certified electrician will need to connect the system and ensure it is all working correctly before tiles can be installed.

Makes the most of space – in smaller spaces underfloor heating can be used as the sole heating system, freeing up wall space where bulky radiators would usually sit.

Ideal for wet rooms – underfloor heating is suitable for use in wet areas, which makes it ideal for use in bathrooms and wet rooms. It helps to evaporate water on tiled floors, minimising the risk of slipping and making the floor safer.

Flexible heating option – electric underfloor heating can be installed on any level of the house and because the mats are very slim it is perfect for use in renovation projects.

Luxurious experience – there’s no denying that underfloor heating provides a luxurious feeling underfoot – whether you use it in your bedroom, bathroom, kitchen or living areas.

Cons of Electric Underfloor Heating

Expert installation – you will need to make sure you hire qualified tradesmen to install the system and keep hold of all information regarding installation in case of any problems in the future.

Insulation – to make the most of your electric underfloor heating you may need to install additional insulation beneath the mats. Tile backer boards will help your UFH system work most efficiently.

Longer heat up times – electric underfloor heating can take a little longer to heat up than other options, however if you use your thermostat to create a custom heating schedule that suits you it’s unlikely you will notice.

Running costs – if you use electric underfloor heating as the only source of heating in your home it may be an expensive choice, however it’s more likely that it will be used for one or two rooms or as an additional heating method – for this it is a cost effective option.

Faults – if there are any faults with the system you may need to rip up the floor to fix or replace the electric underfloor heating which will be expensive and disruptive.

At Tile Fix Direct we have three options when it comes to choosing a brand:

DEVI

DEVI are celebrating their 75th birthday in 2019! They are market leaders in Europe aiming to provide “high quality electrical heating solutions with long-lasting effects.” They are confident in their range of underfloor heating products, including mats, cables and thermostats, even offering the DEVIwarranty™ that not only covers cable or mat replacement, but also the cost of installation and floor materials – up to 20 years! Shop DEVImat underfloor heating online.

Orbry

Orbry provide a range of wet room products at affordable prices. Their range of electric underfloor heating products includes, 100W & 150W self-adhesive mats, thermostats and insulating tile backer boards to help you get the most out of your system. Shop Orbry underfloor heating online.

Schlüter

Schlüter’s DITRA-HEAT underfloor heating system combines a decoupling mat with electric heating cables. The innovative DUO system also provides other benefits including soundproofing, waterproofing and an insulating thermal break layer. They also have a range of thermostats including a wifi controlled option that links to a smartphone app. Shop Schlüter underfloor heating online.

Our staff have many years experience and are familiar with all the systems we sell so get in touch if you have any questions. Alternatively use our electric underfloor heating selector to help you work out what you need.

Is there anything that can’t be controlled via our smart phones nowadays? Ok, that might be a bit of an exaggeration but with cat flaps and kettles joining the list of app-controlled devices, it’s no surprise that top electric underfloor heating manufacturer Schlüter are joining the club. Their DITRA-HEAT range is already extremely successful and now they have added smart wifi thermostat to enhance the award-winning system.

Based on their existing 2″ thermostat, the new Schlüter wifi-enabled thermostat allows you to truly customise your electric underfloor heating system. The easy set-up wizard means you can start scheduling up to six different events per day for the ultimate flexibility. Dedicated Android and Apple iOS apps are available to download for free that feature an easy to use intuitive interface. If you are using electric underfloor heating throughout your home you can control all of your Schlüter thermostats from one app – either individually or via groups to create heating zones within the home. Multiple users can make their own changes to the same thermostats to meet the needs of everyone in the household. The stylish wall mounted units are small and discreet so they will not affect the overall design of your space.

Features & Benefits of Schlüter Wifi Thermostat

Turn the system on and off remotely so you can wake up or arrive home to a warm home

The adaptive system ensures the desired temperature is achieved in the most energy efficient way

Open window function shuts off the heating for 30 minutes is a rapid drop in temperature caused by an open window or door is detected

The RT5 thermostat is a square wall-mounted device with a 2″ touchscreen that can be controlled via Android and Apple iOS devices. The RT5 wifi thermostat is also included in the DITRA-HEAT-DUO kits which include everything you need to install the DITRA-HEAT system – DITRA-HEAT decoupling matting, electric underfloor heating cables and a wifi thermostat. When used as part of the DITRA-HEAT system, the thermostats can provide the ultimate in comfort and DITRA-HEAT-DUO matting features fast reacting heating and acoustic reduction fleece, as well as the stud structure that makes installing the cables quick and easy. See the different kit sizes available at Tile Fix Direct below.

Orbry Wet Rooms are celebrating their 5th birthday this month, and we’re joining them but offering discounts on five different products! At this time of year we’re all wishing for additional heating in our homes, so we’ve decided to give you 15% off a range of Orbry Underfloor Heating products. From self-adhesive mats to touch screen thermostats, Orbry have a range of underfloor heating products designed to add a touch of luxury to any room in your home.

Orbry strongly recommend adding underfloor heating to wet rooms, as it helps evaporate any surface water that is left on floors after showering. The floor level heating also provides a more consistent heat as it is evenly spread out throughout the entire room. If using underfloor heating as your only heating source you can free up wall space previously taken up by radiators. Radiators can also become dust traps, so removing these is great for those with asthma or allergies.

Benefits of Orbry Underfloor Heating

Quick and easy to install

Helps evaporate water from floors

Frees up wall space

More hygienic than radiators

Slim mats add very little height to floors

More consistent heat throughout the room

Can be installed in any size space

Suitable for use with tiles, laminate and carpet

To celebrate five years of Orbry Wet Rooms we have discounted five product ranges. Use the code ORB151912 at the checkout until 3rd January 2017 to save 15% on the following products:

Electric underfloor heating is fast becoming a popular choice in homes, particularly in bathrooms, wet rooms and kitchens. This is partly due to the affordability of underfloor heating products, but also due to the ease of installation. Electric underfloor heating mats make installation quick and easy, but if you are having to cut the mats repeatedly to fit them into a small or awkward space they can often make the job harder. DEVI have created an innovative loose lay electric underfloor heating cable that combats this problem.

DEVIflex is a heating cable that has been created with its user in mind. When developing the product, which is a replacement for the previous DTIP product, DEVI researched what users wanted and came up with three main design goals:

A great cable strength

Increased cable flexibility

Superior reliability

In order to meet these design goals they created a heating cable that is perfect for using in small spaces, awkward shape rooms, or for those who prefer to lay the cable by hand. The DEVIflex loose lay underfloor heating cable has a twin conductor with a single cold lead cable which aids layout planning and installation. The cold lead cable is now even easier to strip thanks to its 3 solid copper wires.

When it comes to underfloor heating, there are many different decisions you need to make. Firstly you will need to decide whether you will be using electric or wet underfloor heating. While wet underfloor heating can be a good option for the whole house, electric underfloor heating is perfect for one or two rooms. With so many brands and types of electric underfloor heating on the market, it’s hard to know which is the best for you. We’re going to take a look at the products and benefits of DEVI underfloor heating to help you decide if it’s right for your project.

DEVI underfloor heating is a great option for kitchens, bathrooms and hallways – as well as any other room in the home you want the comfort of warm floors. There are many reasons you should choose to install DEVI underfloor heating products in your home:

Benefits of DEVI underfloor heating

Easily calculate which products and the quantity you need using the free online DEVI HeatMAP™ software.

DEVI underfloor heating products are quick and easy to install, the mats simply roll out and have self-adhesive on the underside.

Available in self-adhesive mats or loose lay cables – making it extremely flexible and therefore suited to all sizes and shapes of rooms.

Underfloor heating helps avoid slips and falls by evaporating any left over water in wet rooms and walk in showers, or from umbrellas, coats and shoes in halls.

As the mats are extremely thin they can be installed over old floors, making them perfect for renovation projects. The depth of the DEVI underfloor heating mat, adhesive and tiles is usually just 8-10mm!

Heat rises from the floor to the ceiling so the even distribution of heat throughout the floor provides a more comfortable warmth.

DEVI underfloor heating heats rooms at a lower temperature than traditional radiators, reducing temperatures by 1-2°C without influencing the thermal comfort level and reducing energy loss by up to 20%.

Reduction in energy used is better for the environment and will reduce your energy bills, DEVI underfloor heating is designed to run at approx. 1p per m2.

As the thin mats are hidden beneath the floors they allow you to free up wall space – giving you freedom to place furniture anywhere you like in the room.

Traditional radiators can become dust traps, removing these and installing DEVI underfloor heating is more hygienic and better for allergy and asthma sufferers.

As the heating mats are placed directly beneath the flooring, they can heat up the room much quicker than other heating methods.

The DEVI underfloor heating can be easily controlled using one of the many thermostat options including the touchscreen DEVITouch or wireless DEVILink system.

Each mat comes with the DEVI 10 Year Warranty, giving you extra peace of mind.

At Tile Fix Direct we stock a range of DEVI underfloor heating products at great prices. Order your DEVI Underfloor Heating online today.